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News archive 2005An archive of Stop TB Partnership news releases and activity reports in 2005.2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / Earlier
Field testing the revised TB recording and reporting forms
20 December 2005 The Stop TB Department of WHO, in collaboration with partners, convened three informal expert consultations in Geneva, Switzerland in April, May and September, 2005. The expert group has issued revised TB recording and reporting forms and registers to facilitate building consensus at national level on a minimum standardized monitoring tool that complies with the Stop TB Strategy. The main changes in the information system forms are the inclusion of TB/HIV collaborative activities; culture for diagnosis and drug resistance testing; and the management of patient drug kits. The revision also aims to strengthen links with all care providers, civil society and the national health management information system (HMIS).
New tuberculosis therapy offers potential shorter treatment
17 December 2005 Clinical results on a new combination treatment that could dramatically shorten the length of tuberculosis (TB) treatment were presented today at the 45 th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Washington, D.C. Printable Version The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) L'institut de recherche pour le développement
Stop TB Partnership Indonesia launches web site, and successfully holds first-ever National TB Congress attended by over 1000.
6 December 2005 
The Stop TB Partnership Indonesia web site will serve as a comprehensive public information tool for tuberculosis in Indonesia. The web site was launched in coordination with the first-ever Indonesian National TB Congress, that took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, 18-19 November 2005. The TB Congress drew over 1000 health professionals, politicians, healthcare providers, NGO activists, and TB staff from throughout the country. The participants reviewed the national TB partnership movement, Gerdunas. Meeting agenda items included new mechanisms for supporting the 5-year national TB plan 2006-2010, progress and opportunities in clinical aspects of TB, community involvement, and the International Standards of TB Care. Indonesia launched Gerdunas in 1999. Indonesia was the first country in the world to establish a national Stop TB partnership.
World AIDS Day
1 December 2005 
The TB community is committed to the theme of this World AIDS Day by collaborating with the HIV community to provide universal access to comprehensive TB and HIV prevention, treatment and care services. In highly HIV endemic countries TB programmes can raise awareness about TB/HIV co-infection, provide HIV counselling and testing and provide HIV prevention methods as well as antiretroviral therapy for TB patients who are also HIV positive. TB programmes can help keep the promise and Stop AIDS!
UNAIDS web site TB/HIV Working Group November 2005 Information Circular
Stop TB Partnership Executive Secretary addresses World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates
24-25 November 2005 The Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr. Marcos Espinal, was invited to make a special presentation on the global TB epidemic and regional TB emergency in Africa at the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, Italy on 24-25 November. The summit was organized by the Gorbachev Foundation and sponsored by the Municipality of Rome, this year's theme being "Africa Emergency: From Attention to Action." The gathering attracted a number of Nobel Peace laureates including Mikhail Gorbachev, Frederik Willem De Klerk, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, John Hume, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams, Rigoberta Menchù Tum, and Lech Walesa, as well as special guests Bob Geldolf, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Carla Del Ponte and others.
Italy urges tuberculosis to become a priority for the G8 in 2006
(AGI) - Rome, Italy, Nov 10 2005 The Italian Government is to call on G8 countries to intensify global efforts on TB control and ensure it is included as a priority in the 2006 summit agenda. In a statement distributed by the Prime Minister's Office, Giuseppe Drago warned that "TB risks being forgotten" despite two million people dying from the disease every year. He also warned of the challenges of addressing TB in Africa where rates continue to rise, the threat of drug resistance, especially in the former Soviet Union, and the urgent need to find effective vaccines. Addressing delegates at the Stop TB Partnership's Coordinating Board meeting at Assisi in November, Mr Drago confirmed Italy's commitment to TB by announcing that his government will "take up the duty of informing other members of the G8 so that the fight against TB, in particular in Africa, becomes one of the priorities of the next summit at Saint Petersburg".
GDF Invitation of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Paediatric drugs
7 November 2005 To facilitate access to tuberculosis (TB) drugs in countries with a high burden of TB, the Global Drug Facility (GDF) is inviting manufacturers of paediatric formulations to submit Expressions of Interest by 25 November 2005. Annex 1: Pharmaceutical Product Questionnaire
Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board meeting
1 November 2005 The 9th Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board Meeting will take place in Assisi, Italy from 10-11 November.
Joint Meeting of the DOTS Expansion, TB/HIV and DOTS-Plus for MDR-TB Working Groups in Memory of Lisa Véron
Palais des Congrès, Versailles, France 15-17 October The first Joint Meeting of the Stop TB DOTS Expansion, TB/HIV and DOTS-Plus for MDR-TB Working Groups was held in Versailles and Paris from 15 to 18 October. This meeting convened over 400 persons including programme managers for TB and HIV from the 22 High Burden Countries and other countries with high HIV or MDR-TB prevalence, technical and donor agencies, representatives of the community affected with TB and TB/HIV, academic institutions, etc. 
Fighting TB on the front lines: Results of a special e-forum
October 2005 Key findings and recommendations on the crucial role played by front-line health workers in TB control. A joint publication of Health and Development Networks and the AIDS-Care-Watch Campaign with support from the Stop TB Partnership and the Development Cooperation Ireland
36th World Conference on Lung Health, "Scaling up and sustaining effective tuberculosis, HIV and asthma prevention and control"
Palais des Congres, Paris, France 18-22 October 2005 This week, the 36th World Conference on Lung Health, will bring together delegates to address such issues as TB/HIV, research and development of new TB drugs, diagnostics and vaccines, advocacy and communication, and a new Stop TB Strategy. The Stop TB Partnership will be involved in number of meetings throughout and around the conference including, "Scaling up DOTS Expansion, TB-HIV and DOTS-PLUS," "Strengthening Medicine Supply in National TB Programmes: Practical Guidelines and Tools," "Scaling up TB control to meet the needs of the poor," and the annual meetings of the Working Groups on New TB Drugs and New TB Diagnostics. Events at this meeting are also viewable in the Stop TB Partnership calendar of events.
City of Versailles cites Stop TB Partnership for award
15 October 2005  
Versailles, France -- The City of Versailles today awarded a medal to the Stop TB Partnership for its work and achievements in TB control. The Deputy Mayor of Versailles presented the medal to Stop TB Executive Secretary Marcos Espinal during the opening of the first Joint Meeting of the Working Groups for DOTS Expansion, TB/HIV and DOTS-PLUS for MDR-TB. Dr Espinal accepted the award on behalf of the hundreds of Stop TB partners worldwide, the Partnership Secretariat, and many other collaborators, past and present, whose strong commitment to TB made this award possible.
2005 UN World Summit report calls for strengthened commitments for TB control
28 September 2005 World Health Organization -- The 2005 World Summit in New York, marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, was the largest gathering of Heads of State and Government in history. Regarding TB, the official Summit communique includes commitments to promote sustainable long-term funding, strengthen public-private partnerships, develop new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines, and strengthening health systems in Africa.
WHO declares TB an emergency in Africa
Call for "urgent and extraordinary actions” to halt worsening epidemic Maputo, 26 August 2005 The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa comprising health ministers from 46 Member States has declared tuberculosis an emergency in the African region - a response to an epidemic that has more than quadrupled the annual number of new TB cases in most African countries since 1990 and is continuing to rise across the continent, killing more than half a million people every year.
The draft Global Plan is now available for comments
26 September 2005 The Stop TB Partnership is developing the second Global Plan to Stop TB 2006 - 2015 as a successor to the first Global Plan (2000-2005). At this stage, the Plan is a working draft. Your comments on the Plan are welcome, as the Plan now undergoes finalisation.
In memory of Dr. Mwape Lyndon Kafwabulula
27 July 2005  It is with very great sadness and shock that we announce the death of Dr. Mwape Lyndon Kafwabulula, the TB and leprosy specialist (equivalent to NTP manager) at the Central Board of Health, in Zambia.Lyndon died this week in South Africa as a result of the serious injuries he sustained in a car accident in Zambia two weeks ago. His wife and young family survived the crash unharmed. His death is a great loss for TB control in Zambia and our deepest condolences go to his wife and family.
400th Organization Joins the Stop TB Partnership
25 July 2005 
The Stop TB Partnership is pleased to announce that Koalisi untuk Indonesia Sehat (Coalition for Healthy Indonesia) has joined the Stop TB Partnership as the 400th Stop TB Partner Organization. It is a non-governmental organization / network involved in advocacy, communications, education and training. Visit their web site.
Winners announced for the PANOS Stop TB Print Media Fellowships
14 July 2005 The Panos Global AIDS Programme and Stop TB Partnership have awarded fellowships to print journalists from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Pakistan, Philippines and Zambia to write on issues around TB, and TB & HIV/AIDS. Four fellowships have been awarded to photo journalists. The fellowships will run from July to October 2005.
G8 leaders commit to supporting fight against TB
11 July 2005 In their official signed communiqué from the Gleneagles summit last week, G8 leaders committed themselves to help meet needs identified by the Stop TB Partnership in the global fight against tuberculosis.
World Health Assembly adopts key resolution for tuberculosis control
25 May 2005 Geneva -- The World Health Assembly endorsed a resolution for TB control at its 58th meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The resolution is an important step forward in the global campaign to halt the spread of the TB epidemic, and will help secure and shape the future of TB control in line with the Millennium Development Goal targets on TB.
Memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation and support for global TB control signed between the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Stop TB Partnership
19 May 2005 Geneva -- Today a memorandum of understanding (MOU), was signed between the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Stop TB Partnership to increase cooperation, improve resource allocation, and bring support to TB-affected communities of great need. Read the MOU 
Global gathering yields 'Road Map' to intensify action against TB in Africa
$1.1 billion needed in 2006-2007 to strengthen TB programmes and address HIV-associated TB as yearly toll climbs to 540,000 deaths 4 May 2005 Addis Ababa - At a groundbreaking meeting of the global Stop TB Partnership in Addis Ababa today, leading African and international health and development officials offered a detailed "road map" to halt Africa's spiraling epidemic of tuberculosis, which in combination with HIV is overwhelming many health services in the region. English Press Release French Press Release Click here for the roadmap poster Click here for the roadmap flyer
Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board meeting
27 April 2005 The 8th Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board Meeting will take place in Addis Ababa from 3-4 May, immediately following a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Second Global Plan to Stop TB 2006 - 2015 on 2 May 2005. Hosted by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Board meeting will address among other issues the global TB targets and the MDGs in Africa, the Second Global Plan and an international standard of TB care. It will also nominate a committee for the upcoming election of a new Coordinating Board chair. A press conference will be held on 4 May at the lunch break.
Panos and Stop TB Partnership journalism fellowships
27 April 2005 The Panos Global AIDS Programme and the Stop TB Partnership are awarding fellowships for print and photo journalists in the South to raise local debate and understanding of TB and, in particular, its link with poverty and HIV/AIDS. The fellowships will be awarded to local journalists in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia and Haiti.
DOTS in India Exceeds Population Coverage of 1 Billion
19 April 2005 India’s Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), which is based on the WHO-recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy, has undergone unprecedented rapid expansion in recent years. By the end of March 2005, RNTCP population coverage crossed one billion.
TBTV Paris Marathon Event: Running for the Right to Life - Access to Effective Treatment for All
10 April 2005 10 April 2005 Paris, France -- A team of TB patient activists will participate in the 29th International Paris Marathon. Among the participants, some of whom are TB/HIV or MDR patients, will be activists Jeannie Mulenga from Zambia and Bertrand Kampoer from Cameroon running to raise awareness about TB and the importance of effective diagnosis and treatment. A French film crew is expected will follow the TB team by motorcycle and TBTV aims to broadcast the event live via their web site. To find out more, please visit:
Canada helps to defeat global tuberculosis epidemic
24 March 2005 Ottawa - Today, on the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, the Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of International Cooperation, announced that the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will provide $38 million this year in additional support to the fight against tuberculosis (TB).
UK Government Pledges £5m for Stop TB Partnership
24 March 2005 The UK Government today pledged £5m to help fund the work of the Stop TB Partnership over the next three years. This is more than double the support given over the previous three-year period, and makes DFID the third biggest donor to Stop TB.
TB Cases and Deaths Linked to HIV at Alarming Levels in Africa
23 March 2005 Rising rates contrast sharply with accelerated progress in other regions London/Geneva - In most areas of the world, the battle against tuberculosis is being successfully fought, but in Africa the disease has reached alarming proportions with a growing number of TB cases and deaths linked to HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report released today. English /
Français
Canadian-Funded Drug Facility Proves Major Success In Global Fight Against Tuberculosis
23 March 2005 
Life-saving drugs are treating and curing millions of TB patients in the world's poorest countries for $12-14Ottawa, Canada - The Global Drug Facility (GDF) - an innovative scheme launched with Canadian funding in 2001 to provide high quality TB drugs for low income countries - completed its fourth year of operations today with the release of a new report that GDF has now provided drugs for 4.4 million TB patients in 58 countries around the world, nearly all with average per capita incomes of under $1,000. English /
Français
Statement by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on World TB Day 2005
23 March 2005 "Five thousand people die from tuberculosis every day, although the disease is both preventable and curable. Clearly, we must work harder if we are to achieve, by 2015, the Millennium Development Goal of halting and beginning to reverse the spread of TB as one of the world’s major diseases."
Panos and Stop TB Partnership launch TB fellowships for journalists in the South
23 March 2005 The Panos Global AIDS Programme and the Stop TB Partnership are launching fellowships for print and photo journalists in the South to raise local debate and understanding of TB and, in particular, its link with poverty and HIV/AIDS. The fellowships will be awarded to local journalists in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia and Haiti. English /
Français
WHO Europe: Tuberculosis is a regional emergency
16 March 2005 The WHO Regional Director for Europe has sent a letter to all Members States in the region calling TB a "regional emergency", saying there were more cases reported in 2004 than at any time in the last 20 years.
ACS EURO Workshop, Moscow. Russian Federation
14 - 16 March 2005 The WHO/Moscow and the Stop TB Partnership Secretariat organized a Stop TB Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization workshop. The main objective of the workshop was to equip the participants to assess their basic advocacy, communication and/or social mobilization (ACS) needs and on that basis formulate a 6-12 month work plan. Some of the participants may be submitting proposals to the GFATM 5th Round and used the workshop as an exercise for preparing an ACS component to their proposals. For more information contact stoptbadvocacy@who.int.
The 8th Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board meeting to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3-4 May 2005
4 March 2005 Dates have been finalized for the 8th Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Meeting. Additionally, the Steering Committee for the Global Plan to Stop TB will meet on 2 May 2005. Satellite events including site and high level visits will be scheduled for 5 May 2005.
The GFATM: A Strategic Approach to TB Proposals in Round 5
21-25 February 2005, Geneva, Switzerland The World Health Organization and technical partners recently conducted a workshop with the aim of developing robust TB proposals for submission to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria during the fifth round. The workshop brought together 30 TB consultants, the majority of whom will be assisting countries with drafting the Round 5 TB proposals. The workshops included up-to-date briefings on key aspects related to TB control, the latest tools and guidelines. A helpline has been set up to provide assistance to technical questions during the Round 5 proposal process: tbproposalhelp@who.int |
